Abstract: This invention discloses a tire having enhanced wet traction and ice traction characteristics. These tires are comprised of a generally toroidal-shaped carcass with an outer circumferential tread, two spaced beads, at least one ply extending from bead to bead and sidewalls extending radially from and connecting said tread to said beads, wherein said tread is adapted to be ground-contacting, wherein the tread includes at least one circumferential groove which separates circumferential ribs, each circumferential groove having two sides and a base therebetween, and wherein the sides of each circumferential groove are comprised of a rubbery composition that includes silicate microflakes which are substantially aligned in an orientation which is parallel with the sides of the grooves.

Abstract: This invention discloses a tire having enhanced wet traction and ice traction characteristics. These tires are comprised of a generally toroidal-shaped carcass with an outer circumferential tread, two spaced beads, at least one ply extending from bead to bead and sidewalls extending radially from and connecting said tread to said beads, wherein said tread is adapted to be ground-contacting, wherein the tread includes at least one circumferential groove which separates circumferential ribs, each circumferential groove having two sides and a base therebetween, and wherein the sides of each circumferential groove are comprised of a rubbery composition that includes silicate microflakes which are substantially aligned in an orientation which is parallel with the sides of the grooves.

Abstract: This invention discloses a tire having enhanced wet traction and ice traction characteristics. These tires are comprised of a generally toroidal-shaped carcass with an outer circumferential tread, two spaced beads, at least one ply extending from bead to bead and sidewalls extending radially from and connecting said tread to said beads, wherein said tread is adapted to be ground-contacting, wherein the tread includes at least one circumferential groove which separates circumferential ribs, each circumferential groove having two sides and a base therebetween, and wherein the sides of each circumferential groove are comprised of a rubbery composition that includes silicate microflakes which are substantially aligned in an orientation which is parallel with the sides of the grooves.

Abstract: This invention reveals a pneumatic tire comprising a generally toroidal-shaped carcass with an outer circumferential tread, two spaced beads, at least one ply extending from bead to bead and sidewalls extending radially from and connecting said tread to said beads, and an innerliner which covers the inner surface and which is comprised of a halobutyl rubber, a filler and lignin. The incorporation of lignin into the innerliner prevents migration of moisture into the tire carcass which can lead to corrosion and consequential delamination of steel cords within the tire. Normally the lignin will be included in such innerliner formulations in an amount which is within the range of 1 phr to 20 phr. Lignin can also be used to protect the steel belts by incorporating it into other tire components located between the innerliner and the belts.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber composition prepared with pre-treated precipitated silica and tire with component comprised of such rubber composition. The rubber composition is comprised of at least one diene-based elastomer and said pre-treated precipitated silica together with a sulfur cure package comprised of elemental sulfur together with 1,6-bis (N,N?-dibenzylthiocarbamoyldithio)-hexane crosslinking agent and sulfenamide accelerator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber composition prepared with pre-treated precipitated silica and tire with component comprised of such rubber composition. The rubber composition is comprised of at least one diene-based elastomer and said pre-treated precipitated silica together with a sulfur cure package comprised of elemental sulfur together with 1,6-bis (N,N?-dibenzylthiocarbamoyldithio)-hexane crosslinking agent and sulfenamide accelerator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber composition prepared with pre-treated precipitated silica and tire with component comprised of such rubber composition. The rubber composition is comprised of at least one diene-based elastomer and said pre-treated precipitated silica together with a sulfur cure package comprised of elemental sulfur together with 1,6-bis (N,N?-dibenzylthiocarbamoyldithio)-hexane crosslinking agent and sulfenamide accelerator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber composition and tire with tread thereof containing a functionalized elastomer and reinforcement comprised of rubber reinforcing carbon black and a combination of pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica and at least one of hydrophilic precipitated silica together with at least one of short fibers and resin product of methylene acceptor and methylene donor or hydrophilic precipitated silica having been hydrophobated in situ within the rubber composition by a silica coupling agent, optionally together with at least one of reinforcement additive comprised of short fibers and reinforcement additive comprised of resin product of methylene acceptor and methylene donor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tire having a rubber tread of a lug and groove configuration wherein at least a portion of surface of the grooves is comprised of an elastomeric layer having a repellent property.

Abstract: This invention discloses a tire having enhanced wet traction and ice traction characteristics. These tires are comprised of a generally toroidal-shaped carcass with an outer circumferential tread, two spaced beads, at least one ply extending from bead to bead and sidewalls extending radially from and connecting said tread to said beads, wherein said tread is adapted to be ground-contacting, wherein the tread includes at least one circumferential groove which separates circumferential ribs, each circumferential groove having two sides and a base therebetween, and wherein the sides of each circumferential groove are comprised of a rubbery composition that includes silicate microflakes which are substantially aligned in an orientation which is parallel with the sides of the grooves.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire with tread of a rubber composition containing a functionalized elastomer and pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica reinforcement.

Abstract: Pneumatic rubber tire with a component comprised of a silica reinforced rubber composition comprised of specialized polybutadiene rubber, functionalized styrene/butadiene elastomer and cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber.

Abstract: The invention relates to treatment of a pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica in situ within a rubber composition. The invention relates to preparation of treated precipitated silica by treatment of pre-hydrophobated precipitated silica in situ within a rubber composition with a bis(3-trialkoxysilylalkyl) polysulfide. The invention further comprises the resultant rubber composition and a tire having a component thereof.

Abstract: This invention discloses a tire having enhanced wet traction and ice traction characteristics. These tires are comprised of a generally toroidal-shaped carcass with an outer circumferential tread, two spaced beads, at least one ply extending from bead to bead and sidewalls extending radially from and connecting said tread to said beads, wherein said tread is adapted to be ground-contacting, wherein the tread includes at least one circumferential groove which separates circumferential ribs, each circumferential groove having two sides and a base therebetween, and wherein the sides of each circumferential groove are comprised of a rubbery composition that includes silicate microflakes which are substantially aligned in an orientation which is parallel with the sides of the grooves.

Abstract: The present invention is based upon the unexpected finding that lignin can be incorporated into wire coat stock composition to improve metal to rubber adhesion. It has been further found that lignin can be used as a replacement in whole or in part for conventional rubber-to-metal adhesion promoters, such as cobalt materials which are conventionally used in wire coat stocks to attain and maintain needed rubber-to-wire adhesion properties. In fact, wire coat stocks that contain lignin provide more that adequate rubber-to-metal adhesion characteristics for typical applications, such as in tires, and maintain needed levels of adhesion over long periods of product service. For instance, high levels of rubber-to-metal adhesion are maintained under harsh conditions, such as exposure to elevated temperatures and high levels of humidity.

Abstract: Pneumatic rubber tire with a component comprised of a silica reinforced rubber composition comprised of specialized polybutadiene rubber, functionalized styrene/butadiene elastomer and cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber.

Abstract: Pneumatic rubber tire with an outer, circumferential tread comprised of specialized cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber based silica/carbon black reinforced rubber composition.

Abstract: Pneumatic rubber tire with an outer, circumferential tread comprised of specialized cis 1,4-polybutadiene rubber based silica/carbon black reinforced rubber composition.

Abstract: Pneumatic rubber tire with an outer, circumferential tread comprised of a cis 1,4-polybutadiene-rich and silica-rich rubber composition which contains specified elastomers with spatially defined glass transition temperatures, in conjunction with silica and specified carbon black reinforcement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tire having a rubber tread of a lug and groove configuration wherein at least a portion of surface of the grooves is comprised of an elastomeric layer having a repellent property.